Check out the podcast that Nate and I recorded tonight. It’s available at Soundcloud , and iTunes. (CtB Episode 57!) Here’s a short and sweet recap to supplement your insatiable desire for Cavs analysis. The Cavs moved the ball well in the first quarter and played the Hawks to a draw. They completely choked when the Hawks turned up the intensity in the second quarter and then Kevin Love left the game with back spasms. The Cavs, without LeBron, Love, or Marion, started the second half by watching Kyle Korver drain a couple of threes to push the lead to 17. It looked like the Cavs were going to get blown out of the gym. But they fought back behind the wizardry of Kyrie Irving, the power and relentlessness of Tristan Thompson, and some gutsy-if-not-quite-effective defense throughout the contest. They were within striking distance throughout the fourth quarter in a back and fourth affair where they cut the deficit three on three different occasions, and to two with 4:43 left. The Hawks absorbed the blows and settled into some two-man action between Jeff Teague and Paul Millsap, eventually putting the Cavs away.

Kyrie Irving finished with 35 points and nine assists (and almost none of his shots were easy looks) but he coughed it up eight times in a game where the referees refused the blow their whistles for three quarters without a coroner on the scene and flipped the switch in the fourth – needing little more than pantomime routines to stop the action. Irving looked a lot like he did last year – dribbling through double teams, taking a lot of those “why not” 3s from five feet behind the line, and of course, finishing at the rim from impossible angles.

Tristan Thompson had a really nice game. His energy, offensive rebounding, and finishing abilities infected the Cavs in the 3rd and 4th quarters. His alley-oop execution of Jeff Teague was a sight to behold. He finished with 18 points on 12 shots and 13 rebounds. He was old-man-at-the-gym’d by Paul Millsap all night long with the help of the referees, but he played a valiant game.

Dion Waiters and Kevin Love didn’t show up, figuratively speaking, and since LeBron James and Shawn Marion literally didn’t show up this game tested the Cavs’ depth. Joe Harris was 3/4 from beyond the arc and had a few heady plays (and a gut-wrenching layup attempt that licked every inch of the rim before willing itself out).

Someone put on James Jones’ jersey and a Mission Impossible 2 mask because at least three times I had to double take “wait…James JONES just rejected Paul Millsap at the rack!?” He missed a bunch of wide open 3s and was supremely active on defense. Not your mother’s James Jones. Over/under on the number of days until JJ has three steals and two blocks again? I’m going infinity days.

All in all it was nice to see the Cavs dig deep when the dam was about to burst and make a game of it. The Hawks are a really good team and will be a formidable playoff foe. Their offensive talent was too much for the Cavs to stop in the waning moments of the game. Ultimately the Cavs need to play like this every night (a scrambling defensive effort for 48 minutes) and at full strength they will win more than they lose.

Woe is he that has to recap that beat down at the hands of the Anthony Davis-less Pelicans. ‘He’ is Ben Werth and will provide an insightful look at what went wrong when the sun checks in on Europe.

Until then, below is a radio interview from the past – well, just about 30 hours ago, when the Cavs were riding an 8-game winning streak. Now they’ve lost two straight. Quite the turnaround. But let’s soften the blow with the bubble wrap of perspective: the Japanese Navy had a 78-year run of dominance leading up to the Battle of Midway, including the devastation at Pearl Harbor, the anniversary of which we just remembered last week. And in less than 10 minutes (nary a quarter of an NBA game) three of the four aircraft carriers in the Japanese strike force were engulfed in flames and destroyed. (the fourth followed later that evening). The Japanese Navy never conducted a successful offensive again. THAT my friends, is an abrupt end to a winning streak. Hastag HistoryLesson. The Cavs will get back to their winning ways in due time. They’ve been a bit lifeless and have gotten into some bad habits. The good news is that Kyrie, Love, LeBron, and most of the rotation is healthy.

But seriously, the day has arrived. After years of speculation, months of discussion, and 15 weeks of pure excitement (not to mention a zillion emails with John, Kevin, Colin, Tom, Nate, Dani, David, Ben, and anyone else I’m forgetting…sorry), the season kick-off has finally arrived. Tonight, and really today, all eyes will be on Cleveland…Include JT’s, apparently.

All of this, of course, can make a person a little emotional. What better way to get those pent up feelings out, then hop on the podcast line. Tom, Nate, David, and I discussed the emotions that will come from the first Cleveland Cavaliers home game, what we plan on doing for the game, what we’ve witnessed from the first two days of NBA basketball, and how we think this season will unfold. And of course, beer.

The Cavs first practice kicked off on Sunday. Kyrie Irving called it “surreal.” We here at at CtB can hardly believe it either. Our first on-the-court glimpse of this Cavs team is only a few days away. Until then, we’ll have to fantasize. While visions of half-court alley oops danced in our heads, Robert, Ben, David and I hopped in the podcast booth for a 2014 training camp preview. Who will lead this team? Are there hidden storylines? Who’s going to start? Who’s going to close? Does Mike Miller have a better ‘do than Andy? We answered all these questions and more.

But seriously, has everyone caught their breath? I sure haven’t. And yet, we’re only a few weeks out from regular season basketball, and even fewer from preseason. Whether we’re ready or not, the dream will soon be a concrete, basketball-playing reality.

To put it all into perspective, Robert Nate, Tom, David, and I hopped on the line to discuss the offseason in general, the best moment of the summer, FIBA, former Cavs players (where are they now?!), Kevin Love, NBA 2k15, beer, and music.

Tom and I attempted to keep this podcast svelt, like a slimmed down Anthony Bennett. Sadly, we failed. This pod was trip to a Las Vegas buffet — we just couldn’t help ourselves: discussing the Summer League, LeBron, Aaron Craft, the melancholy of the the new Cavs era, what’s driving us nuts about Kevin Love trade talk, and so much more. You can listen in on SoundCloud at https://soundcloud.com/ctb-5/summer-league-review-lebron … enjoy.

Really, I can’t get over it. I still tear up when I think about the letter; I get chills when I consider what’s happened; my heart starts racing and my stomach lurches when I imagine next season. Is this a reality? Can someone pinch me?!?! Please, don’t let me wake up from this dream!

LeBron is back, and in the most beautiful way possible. All, for the time being, is right in the world – the possibilities are endless, the expectations sky high.

Of course, this meant Robert, Tom, Nate, Ben and I all had to hop on the old podcast line and each give our two cents. We chatted about LeBeron’s return, what this meant for this season and on, whether or not Kevin Love should join force with our big two, and who else the Cavaliers should target now that the King is back.

Enjoy it, guys – for the first time in four years, the Cavaliers are relevant in the most positive of ways.

With all the hyperbole, rumor, and silliness floating around, Tom and I went in into the broadcast booth to talk about LeBron and his options. Who’s whispering in his ear? Will he return to Cleveland? Have the opinions of random Northeast Ohioans who have tenuous affiliations with the King reached a critical mass? Will Pat Riley pull off another miracle? Who else could the Cavs add? What if our hopes are dashed? We may know the answers later today.

The Lineup: (Click for Author’s Archive)

Nate Smith is an Associate Editor. He grew up in Anchorage, Alaska, and moved to NE Ohio in 2000. He adopted the Cavs in 2003 and graduated from Kent State in 2009 with a BA in English. He can be contacted at oldseaminer@gmail.com or @oldseaminer on Twitter.

Tom Pestak is an Associate Editor. He's from the west side of Cleveland and lives and (mostly) dies by the success and (mostly) failures of his beloved teams. You can watch his fanaticism during Cavs games @tompestak.

Robert Attenweiler is a Staff Writer. Originally from OH, he's long made his home in NYC where he writes plays and screenplays (www.disgracedproductions.com) some of which end up being about Ohio, basketball or both. He has also written for The Classical and the blog Raising the Cadavalier. You can contact him at rattenweiler@gmail.com or @cadavalier.

Benjamin Werth is a Staff Writer. He was born in Cleveland and raised in Mentor, OH. He now lives in Germany where he is an opera singer and actor. He can be reached at blfwerth@gmail.com.

Cory Hughey is a Staff Writer. He grew up in Youngstown, the Gary, Indiana of Ohio. He graduated from Youngstown State in 2008 with a worthless telecommunications degree. He can be contacted at theleperfromwatts@yahoo.com or @coryhughey on Twitter.

David Wood is our Links Editor. He is a 2012 Graduate of Syracuse University with an English degree who loves bikes, beer, basketball, writing, and Rimbaud. He can be reached on Twitter: @nothingwood.

Mallory Factor is the voice of Cavs: The Podcast. By day Mallory works in fundraising and by night he runs a music business company. To see his music endeavors check out www.fivetracks.com. Hit him up at Malloryfactorii@gmail.com or @Malfii.

John Krolik is the Editor Emeritus of Cavs: The Blog. At present, he is pursuing a law degree at Tulane University. You can contact him at johnkrolik@gmail.com or @johnkrolik.

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